Chapter 7
"Alex?" Catherine's eyes widened as she looked to Vincent, completely flabbergasted. Vincent nodded. Catherine quickly turned her attention to Alex then held her hand out.
"Alex!" Catherine tried to hide her shock behind a huge smile. "Hi! Alex! I-I've heard so many great things about you!"
"Oh gawd," Tess muttered under her breath. Keep it together, Cat.
"What's that?" Evan asked Tess since he was within earshot but didn't quite hear what she said.
"Oh, it's nothing," Tess responded taking a gulp of her drink this time.
"Hi, Catherine! So good to finally meet you!" Alex stood up to shake Catherine's hand and with a wide smile she asked, "So Vince has been talking about me, huh?"
Catherine looked up at Vincent, he forced a smile. He could tell Catherine was taken aback after having met Alex. Catherine looked back to Alex who was noticeably inches taller than her even though she was wearing 4-inch heels.
"Uhh, well, I meant that he's told us about you and his friends and family back home." Catherine started to ramble, "Nothing specific, really, but all good stuff! Wow, you are really tall!" Catherine was starting to feel claustrophobic standing between Vincent and Alex.
Tess, recognizing her friend was in dire need of a lifeline, came to Catherine's side.
"Excuse me guys, but I need to get my bestie a drink! We'll be right back!" She gently pulled Catherine away from the group and together they went to the bar.
"I can't believe Alex is here! Why didn't you tell me?!" Catherine stared at Tess, eyes wide open, as she leaned against the bar.
"Cat, you need to take a moment and breathe. I didn't tell you because I thought you might not have come out tonight if you knew."
"You're right, I wouldn't have."
"Exactly." Tess frowned. Just then the bartender came up to them.
"What can I get you lovely ladies to drink?"
"I'll have a Cosmpolitan and she'll have a Sangria, please."
"You got it," the handsome bartender winked. Ofcourse, Tess winked back. Catherine was too dazed about meeting Alex to notice.
"Cat, snap out of it!" Tess turned Catherine to face her and snapped her fingers.
"Yeah, yeah, okay... I just can't believe she's here. Did he even know she was coming?" Catherine looked to Tess.
"No, he didn't. He told us that she surprised him this morning. Cat, I should tell you something."
"What? Tell me what?"
"I noticed when he introduced her to all of us, he said 'friend'. I don't know if that means anything or nothing at all, but it's a lot different than saying 'partner' or 'girlfriend'. Alex didn't seem to care either way. If she did, she sure is good at hiding it."
"Here you go, ladies," the bartender brought their drinks to them. "And by the way, these are on the house." Tess batted her lashes and mouthed, "Thank you." He gave Tess a sexy grin and wink before turning away to tend to the other customers.
Cat was quiet then said, "She looks like a super model."
"So what? So do you, you're just a petite one." Tess smirked and nudged Cat which made her laugh. "Hey, listen. Vincent's a good guy. And from what I can tell about Alex, she seems like a nice person. But regardless of the way he introduced her to us, you need to remember you came here with Gabe. And however weird you're feeling about Alex, I'm sure Vincent's feeling the same about Gabe. Let's just make tonight a good night with friends. Okay?"
"You're right, you're right... about everything. Let's just enjoy the night. Like you said to me earlier today, no outside drama. We have a pilot to work on!" Although that's easier said than done, thought Catherine to herself then smiled. Time to put a brave face on. I can do this!
"Vince, you weren't kidding," Alex stepped closer to Vincent, she was looking in the direction of Catherine and Tess at the bar.
"About what?" He looked at Alex.
"She really is even more beautiful in person." Alex looked back at Vincent, "I can see why you're so smitten with her."
He let out a breath and had a quizzical expression on his face, "What? What're you talking about?"
"Really, Vincent?" Alex asked sarcastically, her brows raised. She shook her head then leaned in closer so the other guys wouldn't hear her. "I can tell by the way you look at her, and don't try to deny it. I know you better than anyone in here. Is there something I should know?"
Before Vincent could respond, JT clapped his hands together getting everyone's attention and said, "We need to make a toast! But I need another beer first."
"That makes two of us," Joe finished off the last few sips of his.
"I need to grab a drink, too. Anyone else need anything?" Gabe asked Evan, Vincent, and Alex. They all looked down at their still full drinks, then simultaneously shook their heads.
"Nah, mate, I think we're good." Vincent responded.
"Yeah, I'm still getting over that last shot!" Alex giggled.
"I'm good, too," Evan grinned. "Well, for now anways."
Gabe took off to the bar with JT and Joe. Vincent was relieved Evan was with them at the table because that would prevent Alex from asking him questions about Catherine. After several minutes of light-hearted conversation. Evan nodded his head towards the bar area.
"And here they come," Evan stood up holding his drink in hand.
Vincent, Alex, and Evan watched as Catherine, front and center, led the group back to the table.
"She certainly stands out in a crowd, even when she isn't all dolled up," Evan commented with a smile before taking a sip of his drink.
Catherine smiled to Vincent, Alex, and Evan as she walked past them to follow Tess to the opposite end of the bar height table. Tess sat in the same stool she was seated in earlier next to Evan. Gabe pulled a stool up next to Tess for Cat to sit down, then he remained standing next to her at that end of the table. Joe was standing next to Gabe across from Cat, followed by JT who was standing next to Vincent. Alex sat back down on the stool next to Evan but pulled it up closer to the end of the table next to Vincent.
"Now that we're all here with drinks in hand, I'd like to make a toast." JT held up his beer, "Here's to a successful pilot filming with a kick-ass cast and crew, and hopefully several seasons to follow!" Everyone laughed, clinked their drinks together and exclaimed "Cheers!"
Various points in the night, Catherine would glance over and see Vincent and Alex in a deep conversation, or sometimes she would see Alex lean in close to Vincent and they would laugh nonstop about something as she held his arm, which Catherine had to admit made her jealous. Since Catherine was sitting at the opposite far end of the table, she didn't engage in any conversations with either of them. Most of her conversations were with Gabe, Tess, or Joe. Sometimes the group would all share in conversations together and laugh together. Occasionally some of the group would split to play a game of billiards then come back to the table. Catherine mostly stayed at the table.
Vincent was having a great time reminiscing with Alex and having her catch him up on things going on back home in NZ. She had plenty of funny stories to tell him and it felt great laughing at them all. It also kept him from feeling irritated at the sight of Gabe with Catherine. He tried to keep his eyes from looking towards that end of the table but he couldn't help it, so he'd glance over a few times. Just so he could see her face.
"Alright guys, last round of shots for the night!" JT and Joe brought over 7 shot glasses filled with vodka and 1 shot glass filled with orange juice.
"Will you be okay?" Gabe asked Cat since she didn't too well the last time she drank.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I've only had that one Sangria all night, and the rest of the night I've been drinking water. That shot glass with the orange juice is for me." She assured him.
"Hey, everyone's got a ride to take them home tonight, right?" Tess asked concerned since the drinks were flowing pretty freely all evening.
"I'm splitting a cab with Joe," Evan answered, Joe nodded in agreement.
"A couple of my buddies over there," JT pointed towards his friends at the pool table, " are designated drivers for the night, if anyone is going towards our way."
"Cat drove here so I'm riding with her," Gabe mentioned. "We can drop Tess off first."
"Vince and I can walk to his place from here, right Vince?" Alex asked. The whole table looked over at Vincent.
"Uhh, yeah, okay." Vincent nodded.
"Cool!" Alex happily hooked her arm around Vincent's arm. Tess raised her brows and took a sip of her drink. Vincent glanced at Catherine but she looked down, thoughts of Alex and Vincent alone together in his apartment ran through her mind.
"Alex," Vincent turned and leaned over so that only she can hear. "I can grab a cab and drop you off at your hotel, then head home."
"Vince, I thought you might want to spend more time together to... well... you know..." Alex smiled suggestively. She was also a little drunk.
"Alex," Vincent shook his head, then looked back to her and whispered, "You're more than welcome to crash at my place but I have to get up really early in the morning. I just want to go home and sleep. I'm sorry."
"Oh. Okay." She unhooked her arm from his. Just then JT passed the shot glasses around, first handing the orange juice filled one to Catherine.
"Alright, guys! Here's to the end of a great evening with friends!" Everyone laughed and drank their shot at the same time.
"Cat," Tess stood up from her stool, "I'm just going to share a cab with Joe, he's heading my way so he can drop me off instead of you and Gabe. Evan decided to stick around with JT for a little while longer."
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow then," she hugged Tess.
"And hey," Tess looked into Cat's eyes, "Call me if you need to talk. Okay?" Catherine nodded then smiled.
"We'd better head out, too." Gabe told everyone. Vincent looked over at Catherine at the same time that she looked over to him. For a brief moment, the voices and laughter around them seemed to muffle and fade out. In that very brief moment, they shared a smile together, a mutual respect and understanding between the two of them.
Catherine and Gabe made their way around saying their 'good nights' and goodbyes to everyone including JT's buddies that were still shooting pool. When they finally got to Vincent and Alex, Catherine asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to drop you guys off? That way you don't have to walk."
"That would be GREAT!" Alex answered before Vincent could open his mouth.
"Alright then, let's head out!" Gabe smiled and led the way out of the Pub. Catherine glanced behind her and caught Vincent's eyes travel from the back of her legs, to her ass, and up her body. When he looked further up and saw that Catherine caught him looking at her, he grinned. She smiled at him then turned her head to face forward. He was totally checking me out, and damn him and his sexy grins!
They piled into Catherine's car, Alex and Vincent sat in the backseat while Gabe sat in the passenger seat up front. Catherine put Vincent's address into her GPS and started her car.
"Cat, wait." Gabe said after seeing Vincent's address. He turned around to face them in the backseat. "Do you guys mind if Cat drops me off first? I'm only 10 minutes from here but Vincent, it looks like your place is in the opposite direction but on the way towards her place."
"Sounds good to me, if that's okay with Catherine." Vincent responded, he could see her eyes looking at them through the rear view mirror.
"Works for me," Catherine smiled.
Five minutes down the road, Alex was already dozing off, her head resting on Vincent's shoulder. He was looking out the window then suddenly said, "Catherine, wait. Turn right at the next right, please."
"What? Why?" she asked.
"What's wrong?" Gabe asked, looking out the window.
"Alex is staying at the Double Tree Hotel, it's there on the right," he answered.
"Oh, okay." Catherine replied and turned right. She pulled up to the front of the hotel and stopped. The realization that Vincent and Alex would soon be sleeping together was like a punch in her gut. Stop it, you're just friends, remember? No need to be jealous, she thought to herself.
"Alex, wake up. We're here." Catherine heard Vincent say, then he opened the door.
"What?" Alex was groggy from the alcohol. "Wait, this is my hotel..."
"Yeah, come on. Let's go." Vincent helped her out of Catherine's car, then he leaned over Gabe's open window and said, "Thanks guys. Have a good night."
"Goodnight Vincent," Catherine smiled to him.
"It was good seeing you again! Take care!" Gabe shook Vincent's hand.
Catherine watched briefly as Vincent walked away with Alex holding onto his arm.
Gabe's place wasn't that much farther, just an additional ten more minutes. They didn't talk except when he kissed her on the cheek "Good night" and left to go into his building. Catherine was about to pull away when her cell phone rang. It was an incoming call from "V".
"Vincent?" she quickly answered.
"Hey, Catherine." he said warmly. God, she loved the sound of his voice
"What's wrong?"
"Are you already on your way back to your place?" he asked.
"I just dropped Gabe off and I'm leaving now. Why?"
"And you come by this way, right? I thought that's what I heard Gabe say."
"Yeah, I'm coming back that way. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. Everything is fine. I, uhh, wanted to ask if you wouldn't mind swinging by to get me. Alex is tucked in and sleeping. I'm about to leave her room."
"Yeah, ofcourse I can come and get you. I'll be there in about 10 minutes." Wow, so he isn't sleeping with her tonight after all...
"Thank you so much. I'll be waiting outside."
"Okay, see you soon!" Catherine hung up. She couldn't help but feel elated.
Vincent smiled, thankful he was able to reach Catherine before she passed by his way. He put his phone in his pocket, leaned over Alex and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. Earlier she had given him grief, first about dropping her off at her hotel, then about him not wanting to stay over. He ended up laying down next to her just so that she would calm down, she fell asleep not too long after putting her head onto her pillow.
"Goodnight, Alex." He turned off her lights but kept the dim light near the door on, then he left her room.
As Catherine drove up she saw Vincent sitting on a bench in front of the hotel looking at his phone. She stopped right in front of him and rolled down the passenger side window.
"Hey buddy, need a lift?" she said jokingly out the window. He looked up and a huge smile spread across his face.
"Sure do," he laughed as he got into the passenger seat next to her.
"Is Alex okay?" Catherine asked after Vincent got settled in.
He nodded. "Yep, she passed out as soon as she laid down."
"I don't blame her, she's probably tired from all that traveling as well," Catherine said as she began the drive towards Vincent's place.
"Yeah, and we had a long day today. I guess the alcohol on top of all that made it a little easier to fall asleep." Vincent then looked at Catherine, "Thanks for coming by to get me."
Catherine glanced quickly over to him and smiled. "It's not a problem, Vincent," then she looked back to the road. Vincent couldn't help but sneak a quick peek at her legs and the fact that her dress rode up exposing a good portion of her upper thighs. Damn. Nice legs. Vincent let out a breath and averted his eyes to the road.
"So, uhh, how are things with you and Gabe?" he had to ask something that would keep his mind off of her legs.
"Well, I guess we're okay... considering." Catherine answered, a little vaguely.
"Considering? Considering what? If you don't mind me asking."
"Well," Catherine started, keeping her eyes on the road. According to her GPS, they were just a few more minutes from Vincent's place. "... we had a decent talk today about certain things in our relationship."
"Yeah?" Vincent wasn't sure if he really wanted to hear about how well they're doing but he did open that can.
"Yeah, and... " Catherine wasn't sure how much she wanted to tell him but then thought screw it, he asked. "... well, with how things have been going the last few weeks, we kind of decided to have an 'open relationship'. His words, not mine. So, whatever that means."
"'Open relationship' usually means you both are still together but can see other people." Vincent explained, unsure if Catherine really didn't know what that term meant.
"Oh." Catherine looked genuinely confused. "For some reason, I thought it meant something else."
Vincent looked over at her, his brows furrowed, "What did you think it meant?"
"I - I thought it meant we would just keep an open mind about where we were heading but still be exclusive." Her voice trailed off, "I guess I was wrong."
Vincent felt bad. "Catherine, don't mind me. I could be totally mistaken. I'm speaking from my own experience, I'm sorry. I'm just talking shyt right now."
Catherine smiled and shrugged. "That's okay, Vincent. It's good to know. Hey look, here we are!"
She pulled up to the front of his high rise apartment building.
"Wow! Nice building! What floor are you on?" she asked leaning over her steering wheel to stare up at his building.
"I'm on the 8th floor. Got a nice view up there. I'm in 808 if you ever visit me," he winked at her. Catherine felt herself blush.
"Got it, apartment 808. I'll have to take you up on that offer someday!" she laughed.
"Thanks again for the ride, Catherine." he smiled warmly at her before exiting her car. She watched as he walked away until his tall figure disappeared into the building's lobby. He is so sexy.
A few minutes down the road, she heard a buzzing sound. She was at a stoplight so she picked up her phone, nothing. She heard the buzz again then looked down at the passenger side, nothing on the seat and yet she could still hear the buzzing.
What the hell?! She looked around her seat. Then she looked down on the floor of the passenger side. There was a cell phone buzzing from an incoming call. She picked up the phone but she obviously didn't know the code to unlock the screen. This isn't Gabe's phone, she thought as she looked closely at the phone. This is Vincent's phone.
Vincent just finished brushing his teeth and was ready to go to bed. He pulled off his shirt, took off his jeans, and pulled on baggy sweatpants. He was about to lay down when he realized his cell phone wasn't in his jeans that he just folded up. He picked up his jeans and checked the pockets again. No phone. He looked around his bedroom, the bed, dresser, nightstand, floor. No phone. He checked the bathroom, the kitchen, the living room and dining room. No phone. Shit. He picked up the cordless landline phone and dialed his cell number thinking he could just listen for the buzzing of his cell. He walked around his apartment holding the cordless phone but didn't hear his cell phone buzzing anywhere.
"Shit!" he said loudly, hanging up the cordless phone. He looked between his couch cushions, under the couch and chairs, still no phone. He plopped down onto his couch, his head in his hands, trying to remember the last time he used his phone. The bench in front of Alex's hotel. Damnit. He sighed heavily and sat back, his head tilted up against the back of the couch, he stared up at the ceiling, then closed his eyes. He placed his hands over his closed eyes, fingers interlaced. Fuck... I can't believe I left my phone on the fucking bench.
He sat there for a few seconds then got up to retrieve his cordless phone. He figured he would call the hotel and politely ask someone at the front desk if they could please check the bench out front for his cell phone. But first he'll try calling his cell again. He stood up, dialed his cell again, put the cordless to his ear and waited for the rings. He looked around, stilll no buzzing in his apartment. Suddenly, there was a knock at his door. He didn't bother looking through the peep hole and with the cordless still to his ear, he quickly opened the door almost irritated that someone would be knocking this late. His irritation immediately went away when he saw, standing in front of him, holding his buzzing cell phone, his beautiful muse.
Catherine.
He hung up the cordless and his cell stopped buzzing.
"Hi." she smiled, handing him his phone. "You seemed to have dropped this onto the floor of my car."
A huge smile spread across his handsome face as he gratefully took his cell from her. She noticed he was shirtless, wearing only sweatpants that sat very low on his waist, the top band of his briefs showing. Wow. She tried not to gawk at his muscular arms, chiseled chest, washboard abs, and his well-defined Adonis belt.
"Thanks so much, I was looking all over for it." He held the door open. "Please, come in."
"Uhh, okay." Catherine was a little hesitant. She didn't plan on actually coming into his apartment so it was a good thing she parked in the visitor's parking.
"Would you like something to drink?" Vincent asked, stepping closer to her.
She looked up at him, now feeling slightly nervous being this close to a half-naked Vincent. "Maybe a glass of water? Please?"
Vincent gave her that sexy grin of his and nodded. While he walked to his kitchen, which had a granite kitchen divider with metal bar stools tucked underneath separating the kitchen from the formal dining area, she looked around. His apartment had an open floor plan like her condo but smaller. The furnishings were sleek and modern, very clean-lined. She was going to stay close to the door so she wouldn't get too comfortable. It was late after all, almost midnight and she didn't want him to feel obligated to entertain her just because she brought him his cell.
"Here you go," Vincent handed her a tall glass of ice cold water.
"Thank you," she smiled and took a few gulps. "I definitely needed that."
"You're welcome." Vincent smiled at her. Earlier he was ready to go to sleep but now that Catherine was with him, inside his apartment, he was wide awake. He watched as Catherine took a few more sips of water, then gently placed the glass onto the granite bar and turned to face him. She looked so beautiful tonight. She always looked beautiful to him, and after being with her and Alex in the same place tonight, he realized there was no mistaking of who he wanted to be with. There was no mistaking his feelings. But he couldn't force her to feel the same as him. It had to be her choice... but that didn't mean he couldn't help her along the way...
"Well, I'd better get going. I know you have an early day tomorrow," she smiled trying to avoid eye contact with him but it was too late, she made the mistake of looking up into his warm eyes.
"Catherine," he stepped closer, maintaining eye contact with her.
"Yes?" she responded in almost a whisper. Her heart started to beat a little faster the closer he got to her, and he was getting real close. Feelings for him that she was struggling to suppress started marching to the forefront. She started to remember the embrace they shared. She wanted that embrace again.
"I just want you to know... if I were Gabe... I would never want to be in an open relationship with you." He was standing right in front of her now, looking down at her, staring deep into her eyes.
"You wouldn't?" she whispered softly, losing herself in his hypnotic gaze.
He slowly shook his head, "No..." He leaned in closer, their faces just inches apart. He whispered, his voice husky, "because I'd want you all to myself."
